Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 20, 2016 12:26 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

I think it's the opposite. When you have a 9 that's constantly running from DH they're giving the halves and centres less time on the ball and often forcing halves into DH when they're tackled which makes the next play disjointed. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Wire rely on it a lot and it doesn't work against defences that can scramble.

I think we need a balance of the two. Warrington overuse it IMO, we are the polar opposite as we don't have a dummy half with the pace to offer the threat. Used at the right time it is very effective.

Another hooking option would be to move MM to #13 with Powell starting at #9 and Dwyer off the bench. I doubt we are signing him anyway, I would have thought if we were it would have been announced at the same time as Crosby.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 20, 2016 1:28 pm  

I don't think you necessarily need a hooker with pace. You can be effective running from dummy half even without pace. Mark Riddell is an example of that. He was a good distributor but he was also effective when he ran the ball. He was far from the fastest but always seemed to find a gap when he took the ball from dummy half (at least he did when he was in form). It's speed of thought that matters the most for hookers. Sure, a quick hooker will always be dangerous against a weak defence but a smart hooker who is capable of running the ball will be effective against any opposition. As long as you've got hookers who can maintain a quick ruck a team should do fine. Leulaui used to provide some excellent quick, short passes to forwards off the back of a quick play the ball and that's more important that having someone who is quick enough to make a break when the opportunity arises. We've got plenty of quick outside backs who could benefit from someone like Leuluai at hooker, so to me if we're a little one dimensional at dummy half next year then Leuluai is the one I would call upon to quicken the pace, even though he tends not to run the ball and is less direct than someone like Dwyer.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:19 pm  

Personally I don't think we need Dwyer, SP had to tackle for 80 min of every game this season therefor had to manage his energy levels hence not scooting from every play of the ball. If the plan is to get a hooker to act as a foil for MM I'm sure the staff will just get SP to shed a bit over the off season and rotating with MM will allow him the pace and stamina to fill the scoot role himself.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 20, 2016 2:50 pm  

Wigg'n wrote:

I think it's the opposite. When you have a 9 that's constantly running from DH they're giving the halves and centres less time on the ball and often forcing halves into DH when they're tackled which makes the next play disjointed. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Wire rely on it a lot and it doesn't work against defences that can scramble.

Good to have options. A scooting 9 offers more options than one who can't. He doesn't have to scoot each time he's at DH.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Thu Oct 20, 2016 6:37 pm  

The best hookers mix it up. Watching Hodgson in the NRL, he doesn't scoot often, but picks his opportunities, and generally makes good metres when he does. A good quick pass (thrown, not lobbed) is the most important thing.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Oct 23, 2016 11:48 am  

moto748 wrote:

The best hookers mix it up. Watching Hodgson in the NRL, he doesn't scoot often, but picks his opportunities, and generally makes good metres when he does. A good quick pass (thrown, not lobbed) is the most important thing.

Give me a hooker before a scooter anyday of the week.
Oh for a Martin Dermott type hooker.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Oct 23, 2016 1:50 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Give me a hooker before a scooter anyday of the week.
Oh for a Martin Dermott type hooker.

I wish Dermot would come in and work with Powell, I know it was another era and defence weren't as disciplined as they are now, he was just so clever and directed the team. One of my favourite players.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Oct 23, 2016 2:55 pm  

Itchy Arsenal wrote:

Give me a hooker before a scooter anyday of the week.
Oh for a Martin Dermott type hooker.

I'm a bit too young to remember Dermott but I've seen bits of him on old videos. He's in that mould of hookers like Newton, Cunningham, Lowes etc that you just don't see any more, which is a shame because Newton and Cunningham especially were the two best hookers I've seen.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Oct 23, 2016 4:15 pm  

ChrisA wrote:

I wish Dermot would come in and work with Powell, I know it was another era and defence weren't as disciplined as they are now, he was just so clever and directed the team. One of my favourite players.

I thought Powell could play like Dermott as he is essentially a half back so passing and directing should be as natural as breathing. Maybe he just plays to instructions.

Re: Rumours and signings v9 : Sun Oct 23, 2016 4:22 pm  

PurpleCheeseWarrior wrote:

I'm a bit too young to remember Dermott but I've seen bits of him on old videos. He's in that mould of hookers like Newton, Cunningham, Lowes etc that you just don't see any more, which is a shame because Newton and Cunningham especially were the two best hookers I've seen.

Dermott was very underrated. I thought he was a great player.
I couldn't chose between him and Newton because they were both brave and excellent players. I loved Newton because he loved Wigan as if he was a fan.
Had no time for Lowes who took whinging and moaning to new levels.
Never took to Cunningham though hats off to his ability to scramble tries although not pretty are as important as full length efforts.